The 30-month project will establish a 30-hectare demonstration site for growing bulrush (typha latifolia), creating a commercially viable model that links peatland restoration directly to the production of BioPuff®, Ponda’s plant-based insulation for apparel and accessories. It is expected to become the world’s largest wetland farming demonstration supporting peatland regeneration.
Led by Ponda, the consortium brings together J&K Barnard Farms, Liverpool John Moores University, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Finance Earth and Berghaus to develop a commercially viable model for large-scale wetland farming and establish a new UK supply chain for sustainable biomaterials.
Ponda and LWT awarded £2.4M to build world’s largest wetland farming demonstration
Bulrushes, July 2026 - A.J.Critch Wildlife
Ponda, the biomaterials company behind BioPuff®, has secured a £2.4 million grant through DEFRA’s Farming Innovation Programme, co-funded by Innovate UK to lead what is expected to become one of the world’s largest demonstrations of bulrush paludiculture—the cultivation of bulrushes on rewetted peatland.
Bulrushes being harvested by Goose Meadow Farming, July 2026 - A.J. Critch Wildlife
Drained peatlands are among the UK’s largest sources of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Rewetting these landscapes through paludiculture offers a practical way to reduce emissions while improving climate resilience and maintaining productive land use.
In addition to avoiding carbon emissions, restored wetlands can:
- improve natural flood management;
- increase biodiversity by rebuilding wetland habitats;
- reduce soil degradation and erosion; and
- diversify farm incomes through the cultivation of high-value biomaterial crops.
Mike Longden, Peatland Programme Technical Lead, Lancashire Wildlife Trust said:
“This is an exciting project with significant economic and environmental benefits. Demonstrating a commercially viable approach to managing lowland peat at scale- one that improves biodiversity while supporting sustainable farming has huge potential to transform how we manage these landscapes for the future.”
Earlier this week, Lancashire Wildlife Trust's partners, Goose Meadow Farming had their first harvest of their typha crop, with Cameron Edwards' 'Typhanator' harvester that he's built from scratch - watch a video of the harvester early on in the building process here: Converting an old apple harvester.
Cameron Edwards with the Typhanator, July 2026 - A.J.Critch Media
The Typhanator, July 2026 - A.J.Critch Wildlife
Thank you to Defra and Innovate UK for their funding through the Farming Innovation Programme.
